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HR 6294

Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2025

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lawler and 1 co-sponsor

Imposes front-of-pack health warnings on targeted foods and restricts child-directed advertising to curb obesity and type 2 diabetes risk in children.

Introduced in House
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Bill Summary · HR 6294

Overview

  • Bill: HR 6294
  • Session: 119th Congress, 1st Session
  • Title: Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2025
  • Purpose: Require health warning labeling on foods and impose restrictions on advertisements directed at children to reduce childhood diabetes and related diet-related health risks.
  • Introduced: November 25, 2025 (Sponsors: Rep. Beyer, with Co-sponsors Reps. Peters and Lawler)
  • Assigned to: House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Key Provisions

Title I – Health Warning Labeling and Advertising Restrictions

  1. Health Warning Labeling (Food labeling; 403(z) amendments)

    • Applies to:
      • Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) offered for sale.
      • Foods containing non-sugar sweeteners.
      • Ultra-processed foods (as defined in the bill).
      • Foods with certain “nutrients of concern” (e.g., added sugar, saturated fat, sodium) or other nutrients the Secretary designates.
    • Required label statements (front-of-package display, at least 5% of front display area, with bold bordered, easy-to-read text and a triangle exclamation icon):
      • For SSBs: “FDA Warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar can contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay. Not recommended for children.”
      • For foods with non-sugar sweeteners: “FDA Warning: Contains non-sugar sweeteners. Not recommended for children.”
      • For ultra-processed foods/beverages: “FDA Warning: Consuming ultra-processed foods and drinks can cause weight gain, which increases the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.”
      • For foods with nutrients of concern: “High in ” (e.g., High in sugar, fat, sodium), using a bold octagon border, prominently displayed, and not less than 5% of front area.
    • Online sales labeling: Secretary to issue regulations applying these labeling requirements to foods sold online.
    • Definitions:
      • Non-sugar sweetener: Includes common artificial and natural non-nutritive sweeteners (e.g., aspartame, sucralose, stevia, saccharin, etc.).
      • Sugar-sweetened beverage: Any caloric beverage with added caloric sweeteners, 25+ calories per 12 oz, with certain exclusions (infant formula, medical beverages, some meal-replacement products, 100% fruit/vegetable juice with no added sweeteners, alcoholic beverages).
      • Ultra-processed food: Initial definition provided; a formal, later definition to be established by regulations within a specified timeframe (see subparagraphs for timelines).
    • Regulatory development: The Secretary must promulgate regulations implementing the labeling requirements.
    • Congressional reference: Also links to National Academies’ report and recommendations (see NIH/NASEM section below).

  2. Advertising Restrictions (Section 301 of FD&C Act)

    • Adds a new subsection (jjj) prohibiting marketing or advertising a food with required labeling in a manner that reasonably appears directed at children.
    • Determination uses totality of circumstances, including use of child-appealing themes, characters, influencers, etc., and media with children as a substantial portion of the audience.

  3. NIH/NASEM Review and Research Funding (Section 101(c))

    • NIH to contract with the National Academies to review science on ultra-processed foods.
    • Develop a definition for “ultra-processed food” for purposes of section 403(z)(6)(C)(ii) and provide a report with recommendations within specific timelines.

  4. Authorization of Appropriations (Section 101(d))

    • $5,000,000 per fiscal year (FY 2026–FY 2030) to fund regulatory development and enforcement of the labeling provisions.

Title II – Nutrition Research and Public Education

  1. NIH Nutrition Research (New Section 404P; Public Health Service Act)
    • NIH Director to expand and coordinate nutrition research, including:
      • Health effects of ultra-processed foods.
      • Ingredients, additives, sweeteners, and chemicals in ultra-processed foods (potential health harms).
      • Safety profiles of ingredients deemed GRAS (generally recognized as safe) without FDA review.
      • Formulation aspects of ultra-processed foods linked to hyper-palatable qualities and potential addiction.
    • Public meetings on nutrition every 5 years (starting within 1 year of enactment), involving diverse stakeholders with safeguards to include non-industry participants.
    • Topics for meetings: current findings, research gaps, evidence-based nutrition / chronic disease prevention strategies, and policy-relevant discussions about labeling impacts.
    • Reports to Congress on each meeting; public availability on NIH website.
    • Authorization of appropriations: $60,000,000 per fiscal year (FY 2026–FY 2030).

Title III – Public Education Campaign

  1. Nutrition and Physical Activity Public Education Campaign (Sec. 399Y)
    • Replaces current Sec. 399Y with a national public campaign led by the CDC, collaborating with federal, state, tribal, and local partners.
    • Campaign goals:
      • Educate the public on how to read and understand nutrient warning labels.
      • Raise awareness of obesity, inactivity, poor nutrition and associated health risks.
      • Promote physical activity integration into daily life.
      • Support healthy lifestyle choices and reducing added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium.
    • Authorization of appropriations: $10,000,000 per fiscal year (FY 2026–FY 2030).

Title IV – Federal Trade Commission Reforms (Title II of the bill)

  1. Definitions (Sec. 201)

    • Child: under age 13.
    • Child-directed advertising: ads using themes/services appealing to children or media where children are at least 30% of the audience.

  2. Restrictions on Junk-Food Advertising (Sec. 202)

    • Unlawful to market or advertise junk food to children using child-directed advertising.
    • Advertisements must include the mandatory health/nutrient warning labels required by section 403(z) of the FD&C Act.
    • Effective date: 1 year after enactment.
    • FTC enforcement: Treated as unfair or deceptive acts or practices; powers and penalties aligned with the FTC Act; includes special enforcement for common carriers under communications law.

  3. FTC Rulemaking Authority Restored (Sec. 203)

    • Repeals the FTC’s subsection 18(h) and broadens authority to promulgate rules on children’s advertising under the FTC Act, ensuring updated authority to regulate such advertising.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Food manufacturers and marketers: required front-of-pack warning labels on SSBs, ultra-processed foods, and foods with nutrients of concern; required disclosures in junk-food advertising directed at children.
  • Online retailers and e-commerce platforms: applicability of labeling requirements to foods sold online.
  • Advertisers and marketers: restrictions on child-directed advertising for foods with labeling requirements; required disclosures in ads.
  • NIH, CDC, and HHS components: increased funding and new research/public education initiatives; periodic NIH-NASEM meetings.
  • Consumers, especially children and caregivers: enhanced information about nutrition risks; public education campaigns.
  • Federal agencies: FTC enforcement changes to regulate child-directed marketing; rulemaking capacity expanded.

Timeline and Fiscal Notes

  • Effective enforcement of advertising restrictions: 1 year after enactment.
  • Funding:
    • HHS labeling/enforcement: $5 million annually (FY 2026–2030).
    • NIH nutrition/ultra-processed foods research: $60 million annually (FY 2026–2030).
    • Public education campaign: $10 million annually (FY 2026–2030).
  • NIH-NASEM review process: definition and recommendations to be issued within 1 year of enactment and as part of ongoing program every 5 years.

Summary

The Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act of 2025 seeks to curb diet-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes among children, by mandating clear health warnings on foods and beverages linked to obesity and diabetes risk, restricting child-directed advertising of qualifying foods, and boosting federal research and education. It expands NIH research on nutrition and ultra-processed foods, creates a national public education campaign, and strengthens FTC authority to regulate and enforce advertising related to “junk food” and nutrient warnings. The act establishes explicit labeling standards, definitional criteria for ultra-processed foods, and substantial annual funding for implementation and research through 2030.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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